Sr. Packaging Innovation Manager

Groupe la prairie seeks a Senior Packaging Innovation Manager in Zürich to lead luxury packaging innovation, focusing on new materials, sustainability, and breakthrough technologies. The role requires 10+ years in luxury cosmetics packaging development and fluency in English, with German being an advantage.

The Senior Packaging Innovation Manager serves as the technical lead for advancing luxury packaging innovation at La Prairie, driving new materials, sustainable solutions, and next-generation experiences that align with the brand’s premium positioning and future product pipelines.

Responsibilities

• Actively monitors emerging technologies, market trends, and competitor innovations to develop forward-thinking packaging concepts that reinforce La Prairie’s leadership in luxury skincare innovation.
• Manages the full lifecycle of innovative packaging projects, collaborating with internal and external partners to ensure compliance with legal, quality, strategic, cost, and market requirements, and preparing complete documentation for handover to Industrialization and Manufacturing.
• Coordinates with Sustainability and Regulatory teams to ensure all innovation concepts meet compliance, environmental, and regulatory standards.
• Evaluates and selects suppliers based on their technical innovation capabilities, aligning choices with strategic procurement goals to strengthen the innovation ecosystem.
• Leads the exploration and development of new packaging concepts, including advanced materials, novel formats, and immersive luxury experiences.
• Conducts early-stage technical assessments, prototyping, and feasibility validation with internal experts and external partners.
• Oversees the design, engineering, and validation of new moulds and tooling for innovative packaging, ensuring technical readiness before handover.
• Supports innovation-driven optimization projects by integrating new technologies or process improvements to enhance performance or sustainability.
• Assesses supplier technical capabilities and innovation maturity, supporting development to access cutting-edge solutions.
• Maintains structured technical documentation for innovation concepts, excluding ownership of operational master data.
• Assists in drafting innovation-related contracts, technical agreements, and IP documentation for new materials or technologies.
• Prepares and updates innovation documentation, including feasibility reports, prototype specs, testing records, and early SAP/SOP inputs for concept transfer.
• Enhances the innovation testing framework by refining methods, validation protocols, and release criteria for robust evaluation.
• Contributes to developing scalable processes for transitioning innovative concepts into production.
• Serves as the main liaison between Supply Chain, Marketing, Sustainability, R&D, and Quality to integrate new packaging ideas into the long-term roadmap.
• Provides clear progress reports on the innovation pipeline, including risks, feasibility results, and strategic recommendations.
• Performs early risk assessments on new materials and technologies, evaluating filling and assembly impacts for manufacturability and continuity.
• Helps define and shape the packaging innovation strategy, ensuring alignment with brand goals, luxury positioning, and future product lines.

Requirements

• Engineering degree in packaging or equivalent field
• Minimum 10 years of experience in packaging development, with a focus on innovation in luxury cosmetics
• Proven ability in early-stage innovation, including feasibility analysis, prototyping, and technical validation
• Strong cross-functional leadership and communication skills
• Thorough understanding of sustainability, compliance, and regulatory requirements for innovative packaging solutions
• Fluent in English

Nice to have

• Very good knowledge of the German language

What the company offers

• Monthly contribution toward health insurance
• 25 days of annual leave, plus an additional 8.5 days for HQ employees
• Exclusive discounts on La Prairie products and access to Employee-Only Sales at the Employee Boutique
• Unlimited access to La Prairie’s SkillCare program and LinkedIn Learning for professional development
• Opportunities for internal and international career mobility within the Beiersdorf Group
• Bonuses for referring qualified candidates to the company

About the company

La Prairie fosters a diverse and inclusive workplace, committed to professional equality and welcoming applicants from all backgrounds. The company values open, safe, and trusting environments where varied talents contribute to its strength.

• Promotes diversity and inclusion through balanced representation and an open, accepting culture
• Supports professional equality for all employees
• Welcomes applicants from diverse backgrounds

How to apply

Documents to submit:

• application